Tibetan Culture Notes

September 5, 2018

Six Common Points:

TLLHRR (Empire+Nation+State+Tribe+Clan+Family)

Tibet as a separate Nation and National Culture = historical

Comments & Critical Analysis:

West did not used Tibet for her cause but for their convenience

West has used Tibet cynically & disposed off whenever had to

Tibetan language not used for self-determination or independence

But only of culture, identity etc. e.g. India

Governments can sell economy to people not culture

Tibetan culture is “stuck” with one thing/man dependency

Culture of obligations – loss of Tibetan culture is global loss

Change of culture is normal but is it far from normal?

1911-1941 British legacy vs Chinese legacy, are they the same?

The Three Levels Viewing Tibetan culture:

The Shangrila window – mystic/mythic

The Propaganda window – political

The Historicans/Academia window –

        What responsibility does each window hold?

Conclusion: What is Robert Thurman’s intentions?

Fictitious Tibet by Agehananda Bharat

 Madame Blavtsky’s (1831-1891) – The Secret Tibet

Horrendous; Insane; Fakish; Pseudo Tibetan Buddhistica; Exoteric with Erotic Elements etc.

Lama Lobsang Rampa’s (Cyril Hoslin (1910-1981) – The Third Eye

        Occult; Phony; Sex

Lamaism & Orientalism:

        Edward Said (1935-2003)

Comments & Critical Analysis:

        The Indigenous Tibetan View

                Pre-Buddhist, Early, Medieval, ColoniL & Post-Colonial

        The Indigenous Chinese view

                History & Reality

Conclusion: What is Tibetan Culture?

        Ethnic or National Culture

        Identity or Religion

        Mind or Material

“The notion of culture is notoriously difficult to define, but the key element in many accounts is the human mind itself and the capacity of humans to construct their identities in the narrative universe that emerges from (or its co-existence with their culture).” – Prof. John D. Dunne, previous professor at Emory University

September 10, 2018

Preservation of Tibetan Culture:

(Rif Ne Sung Kyob/Rig Zhung Sung Kyob)

1. Rig Ne: Classical Fields of Knowledge

The five major – Grammar; Medicine; Craft; Logic and Philosophy

The five minor – Astronomy; Poetry; Synonym; Prosody and Performing Arts

1. Rig Zhung: Social Scienes

Tribal, local, regional, societal, ethnic, occupational, monastic, laity, food, drinks, dress and costumes, health, entertainment, work and holidays, festivals and celebrations, death and dying, games and sports, race, gender, country-wide, nation-ide, habits, history, civilization, material and mental, micro and macro culture, political notion Ex.) Cultural Revolution (1966 – 1976) and etc.

An analysis

Terminology – Reasoning – Functionality

• Vibrancy – Preservation/Practice
• Tibetan Culture – survival vs identity
• What is the definition of Tibetan Culture?
• What is the Heart and Soul of Tibetan Culture?

Distinction Between the Classical and Social Culture

1. Academic and Non-academic nature
2. Written and Unwritten knowledge
3. Institutionalized and Non-institutionalized

What is preservation of Tibetan Culture?

• Protection from Harms Wy of Other & Self
• Protection from Degeneration – dysfunction, assimilation, lack of vitality/utility, outdated – scientific preservation etc.
• Repetition, Duplication, Multiplicity or Dissemination Beyond
• Fear or Urgency – commercial or conservation of original forms
• Religious, Political, Historical, Identity, Survival, Bragging etc.

An Analysis

• Death of a culture and death of a human society
• Protection of Tibetan culture – scientific means vs vibrancy
• Tibetan cultural preservation – modernity vs traditional
• Tibetan cultural preservation – global vs ethnicity
• Tibetan Culture is “unique” – less, more, profound spiritual and universal
• Tibetan Culture – what to be or what not to be preserved?
• Weaknesses of Tibetan People – submissiveness, illusion, extrovert, division etc.

Conclusions

1. Confusion between organization in the past and preservation now
2. Confusion between our needs now and preservation of those of past
3. Confusion between the importance of humanity and Tibetan-ness

Questions: What, How, Suitability and Capability

September 12, 2018

Tibetan New Year Festival:

Day 1 - Lama Losar – Celebrate at home in a private setting with family

Day 2 - Kingsa Losar – More secular and official ceremony is observed

Day 3 - Chockyong Losar - Prayer flags are hung and devotees go to the monasteries. After three days, Tibetans engage in parties and get together for 15 days